San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-01-31


day, and thrown for my amusement on
my own resources, went after dinner
for an evening Tamble. The air was
calm and clear, and finding a comfort
able seat on a stile between two fields,
sat watching the shadows deepen and
listening TO a nightingale. The light
grew DINNER, pale star appeared in
the sky; afar off | could hear the water
rushing over distant weir. | sudden
ly detected light footsteps in the field
behind me, then the rustic of dress,
and turning my head | saw Edith on
the other side Of the stile. She started
back in surprise.
why" / exclaimed in establishment,
Il heard you were spending the day
with the As" They lived far away
in another direction.
81 did lunch there" she said 4 little
neryously.
But this isn't the way back from
their house."
I'm not coming from there"
oh" said l, and helped her over the
stile.
"Mr. Merton" she said after a
pause, Il want you to do me a favor"
think l dreaded something unpleas-
ant.
you are surprised to meet me here"
she continued.
"Why-eh-yes."
"You mustn't tell my mother you
met me-
Miss Edith's cheeks were flushed,
and her eyes were anxious.
Come, promise" she urged as re-
manned silent.
Il promise" said I-she could have
made me promise anything-"but you
ought not TO have a secret from your
mother"
was beginning to feel like con-
Il know that" said Edith, but
can't help it."
Then It dawned OH me with rush
that Edith had lover and that she
had just parted with him. | felt sud-
den and unpleasant change within
me, and, waking from my little dream,
became reasonable mortal again. 4
barrier of embarrassment had sprung
up between us.
After little pause, however, / in
formed Edith that took fatherly in
terest in her-the adjective did not
seem happy-and that if could serve
her in any honorable way it would give
me pleasure.
thank you" she said, Il value your
opinion very highly, and think if you
we're in my place you would act as l
do"
l smiled at the idea of being in her
place, and wondered if should have
preferred the society of men of ripe
years to that of inexperienced boys.
1t seemed to me that l should.
I'm sure you would" she added
with blush. would you give up a
man because he happened to be poor?"
There wits very beautiful CLEAN in
her eyes.
"No,% said l. mot if there were any
thing in him worth caring for, which
isn't usually the case"
"The man | care for is much too
good for mel" she exclaimed.
Nonsense" said | feelingly.
you would like him very much if
you knew him." she went on. doubted
And you've just seen this paragon"
said | sarcastically.
"Yes," said she, land you can't
imagine how difficult it is"
Then she told me the story of an
attachment-yOuthful detrimental-nO
rOspects-materna disapprOval-clan-
destlne meetings i'll COnSequence-all
the difficulties so full of absurdities
and pathOS that dog the steps of I'M
happy lovers. Poor Edith! like the
rest of the world she had her troubles.
If 1t had been any one else | should
have lectuTed her, but her manner of
stating her case threw dust in my ewes
and made 1t appear she was quite
right.
"And what is his name?" / inquired
bluntly.
Il would rather not tell you," said
she.
What does he do them"
"He is an artist"
| naturally concluded that he was
not successful one, picturing to my
self goOd-lOOklng young dauber &C
cusing the Hanging Committee of the
Academy of all manner of crimes when
they had the good taste to reject his
productions from the mass of medic
Gritty with which they annually cover
their walls.
Il have nephew who calls himself
an artist" saidI.
She gave a little start.
you never spoke of him before"
said she.
mo; because we quarrelled."
Whose fault was itY
His, of counsel" And | told her the
story of Charles ingratitude, while she
listened intently.
Poor fellowp she exclaimed, "hOw
very nice he must be-"
This was not what expected. 1 felt
she ought to have pitied me. So l COM
menced to defend my course of action,
while she, on her side, pleaded Char
les cause with warmth and interest
that, considering her own troubles, sur
prised me. | tried in vain to persuade
her that the first steps toward a recon-
Citation must come from Charlie; but,
wOman-like, feeling blinded her sense
of justice and she was logic-proof. 1t
was almost dark when we separated at
her gate. watched her as she fitted
through the gloom of the trees to the
house, and then walked slowly home
with new set of thoughts about her.
did not sleep well that night.
CHAPTER ".